The former Manchester United and England defender had advised Klopp to forget about winning the Champions League this season and instead concentrate on an all-out effort to end his club's 28-year wait to win the title again.

But the German, who takes his top-of-the-league Reds to Wembley on Saturday to face Tottenham , was unimpressed and bluntly explained that elite players can never pick and choose the games they decide to perform in.

“Sitting in an office and talking about football is completely different to doing the job,” he said of a manager’s role... which must hurt, given Neville was sacked after just four months in charge of Valencia.

Klopp claimed he didn't know how to "kick the Champions League into touch" (Image: REUTERS)

The Reds enjoyed a run to the Champions League final last season (Image: Getty Images Europe)

"I know that’s very hard to do but if they could go into February, March, April without it, I think they could have a real chance if they had free weeks.

“Why? I think their method is exhausting for the front three [Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino]. The drop in quality below them, if there are injuries or playing Wednesday, Saturday, I think it will take its toll."

For Klopp, it is ridiculous even to consider resting players in advance, and plotting a strategy of rotation before the games have even been played.

PSG pitch up at Anfield on Tuesday (Image: REUTERS)

Many people have suggested the manager should rotate against PSG next Tuesday, with the game three days after a tough visit to Spurs, but he replied: “We have to play football.

“A lot of people watch our games when we play Champions League and that’s our job that we do the best we can do in all these games.

“It doesn’t work like this. I don’t want to be too critical because I don’t know exactly how he said it. But it makes no sense to think now about the PSG game because we have no clue anyway who will be ready for that.

Neville was critical of Loris Karius in 2016 (Image: Reuters)

“So we play the Tottenham game and then we have two days to think about PSG. That is very complex. It is about different things – how fit is he, how is he in training? All factors, but I couldn’t care less (what other people think).”

It isn't the first time Klopp has responded to something Neville has said about his team.